The Journey of Herpes Zoster from Myths towards Facts......!! | Chapter 11 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 7

 

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). In India, there is a paucity of population-based studies and data on herpes zoster in reporting herpes zoster cases. Several shreds of evidence reflect that the disease causes a burden on population health in India. Besides several known risk factors, myths, lack of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards treating this infection may affect the quality of life and disease burden. Imparting knowledge, awareness regarding myths and misconceptions, and early approaches for treatment can help prevent disease and complications in the population. The study aims to evaluate the impact of herpes zoster infection awareness programs on myths, knowledge, and practices among the rural population.

Methods: This study is an interventional study that was conducted over 4 months (July to October 2023) in the rural population of western Maharashtra and Families of adopted villages by D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur from the rural field practice area of the medical college. Our study variables were myths about herpes zoster infection, knowledge about herpes zoster infection, and attitudes and practices towards the treatment of herpes zoster infection to evaluate the impact of the health awareness program on it.

Results: The awareness program which was the intervention in this study, was effective in increasing the awareness about myths and knowledge about herpes zoster infection as well as the positive impact related to treatment practices for herpes zoster infection among the rural population in the adapted villages in western Maharashtra. For example, this study showed an improvement in the knowledge of the participants after implementing an awareness program. This study showed that after the awareness program, 91.30% of people learned it is a viral disease, and 85.34% learned that it is not a superstitious thing.

Conclusions: The awareness program which was the intervention in this study, was effective in increasing the awareness about myths and knowledge about herpes zoster infection as well as positive impact related to treatment practices for herpes zoster infection among the rural population in the adapted villages in western Maharashtra. To change the attitude and clear the myths need more effort and faith with more conversation, more visits, interactive sessions, more trained, competent, and confident students, volunteers, and community support for a better and more effective impact of this awareness program.

 

Author(s) Details :-

 

Sagar Goyal
D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

Akshay Salgar
Department of Surgery, LTMGH, and TMMC, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Gayatri G. Dhavalshankh
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

Sheetal .
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Sawangi(Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

Ganesh P. Dhavalshankh
Department of Dermatology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

Archana G. Dhavalshankh
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rudhr/v7/7904C

Homeopathic Treatment of Post Herpetic Neuralgia | Chapter 6 | Medical Research and Its Applications Vol. 6

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a debilitating condition, which occurs in patients suffering from herpes zoster (HZ). The main problem of herpetic neuralgia is persistent pain for months or years with or without activated herpes zoster virus-induced dermatomal rashes, and blisters along thoracic and trigeminal nerve distributions. In conventional therapy, vaccination is most important although it is not widely practiced in countries. Antiviral drugs are also effective, although even after proper treatment sometimes pain may continue. We observed excellent results of these medicines in post-herpetic neuralgia. After that, we studied more than 200 such patients along with control cases treated only with conventional medicines. In this study patients of different ages, sexes and religious groups were included except the gravid mothers with a male: female ratio of about 1.2:1. The vaccination with live attenuated varicella-zoster virus can prevent or reduce the incidence of the disease but there are some limitations of its use. It is contraindicated in pregnant women. It is not used in immunocompromised individuals and is not yet widely used in developing countries. However, homeopathic medicines can also be used for the prevention of PHN in all these conditions.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Swami Shraddhamayananda
Monk in Charge of Medical Unit, Ramakrishna Mission Charitable Dispensary, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal, India.

 

Please See the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mria/v6/8683A

The Journey of Herpes Zoster from Myths towards Facts......!! | Chapter 11 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 7

 

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). In India, there is a paucity of population-based studies and data on herpes zoster in reporting herpes zoster cases. Several shreds of evidence reflect that the disease causes a burden on population health in India. Besides several known risk factors, myths, lack of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards treating this infection may affect the quality of life and disease burden. Imparting knowledge, awareness regarding myths and misconceptions, and early approaches for treatment can help prevent disease and complications in the population. The study aims to evaluate the impact of herpes zoster infection awareness programs on myths, knowledge, and practices among the rural population.

Methods: This study is an interventional study that was conducted over 4 months (July to October 2023) in the rural population of western Maharashtra and Families of adopted villages by D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur from the rural field practice area of the medical college. Our study variables were myths about herpes zoster infection, knowledge about herpes zoster infection, and attitudes and practices towards the treatment of herpes zoster infection to evaluate the impact of the health awareness program on it.

Results: The awareness program which was the intervention in this study, was effective in increasing the awareness about myths and knowledge about herpes zoster infection as well as the positive impact related to treatment practices for herpes zoster infection among the rural population in the adapted villages in western Maharashtra. For example, this study showed an improvement in the knowledge of the participants after implementing an awareness program. This study showed that after the awareness program, 91.30% of people learned it is a viral disease, and 85.34% learned that it is not a superstitious thing.

Conclusions: The awareness program which was the intervention in this study, was effective in increasing the awareness about myths and knowledge about herpes zoster infection as well as positive impact related to treatment practices for herpes zoster infection among the rural population in the adapted villages in western Maharashtra. To change the attitude and clear the myths, need more effort and faith with more conversation, more visits, interactive sessions, more trained, competent, and confident students, volunteers, and community support for a better and more effective impact of this awareness program.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Sagar Goyal
D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

 

Akshay Salgar
Department of Surgery, LTMGH, and TMMC, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Gayatri G. Dhavalshankh
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

 

Sheetal .
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Sawangi(Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

 

Ganesh P. Dhavalshankh
Department of Dermatology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

 

Archana G. Dhavalshankh
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.

 

Please See the book here :-  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rudhr/v7/7904C